Clip for attaching cigar to a hat or cap

ABSTRACT

A clip that is easily attached to and easily detached from a hat or cap and can receive therein either a brand new unsmoked, or partially smoked cigar for storage of said cigar during its non-use that allows said cigar to be accessible for later use. A clip for attaching a cigar to a hat or cap in which the cigar can be protected from damage during its non-use and prevented from otherwise causing damage to a conventional storage location. The clip is comprised of material that is lightweight, durable, resilient and resistant to oxidation and corrosion; such as stainless steel, aluminum, plastic, various composite materials and the like. The clip is provided as a one-piece device or unit having a faceplate, first curved side, first middle plate, second curved side, second middle plate, third curved side, and rear plate. Although this invention has been described in its preferred forms with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure of the preferred form has been made only by way of example and numerous changes in the details of construction and combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

BACKGROUND

This version of the invention is concerned with the field of cigar holders. More specifically, this version of the invention is concerned with a clip that can hold a cigar therein and can be attached to various locations upon a hat or cap so as to store said cigar during non-use while allowing said cigar to be accessible for use.

PRIOR ART

Smoking a cigar usually requires a smoker to commit a significant quantity of time to the act of smoking said cigar, as a cigar has a burn time and useful life far in excess than that of a typical cigarette. A conventional cigar is usually larger in size than a cigarette and possesses considerably more tobacco, said tobacco rolled or compacted at a higher density than that of a cigarette. As a result, a cigar not only burns longer than that of a cigarette but, in many cases, burns slower than that of a cigarette. This feature gives cigars an overall burn time that frequently exceeds the time a smoker may have to completely smoke a cigar. Many cigar smokers respond to this distinct characteristic of cigars by smoking a portion of the cigar, extinguishing the cigar, storing the cigar in a location in which the cigar will not become damaged, retrieving the cigar, and then relighting and continuing to smoke the cigar, repeating the aforementioned process as necessary until the cigar is completely smoked.

During this process, the partially-smoked cigar is stored in a variety of locations for later retrieval and smoking, such as pockets in articles of clothing, various ash trays or cigarette or cigar holders, counter tops, table tops, drawers, furniture, and the like. Inevitably, the partially-smoked cigar, situated in one of these locations, becomes misplaced (causing the cigar to become stale); lost; or bent, crushed, or otherwise damaged (as in a pocket of article of clothing). In some cases, the partially smoked cigar can damage certain storage locations, such as upholstered or un-upholstered furniture, with burn marks or ash stains or smears if said partially-smoked cigar is not fully extinguished or carefully stored within or upon said storage locations.

What is needed then to overcome the aforementioned disadvantages of storing partially-smoked cigars for retrieval and subsequent smoking is the provision of a clip for releasably attaching a cigar to a hat or cap during non-use of said cigar. The clip is fabricated as a one-piece device that can be releasably attached to the side of a hat or cap for temporarily storing a cigar within said clip adjacent to said hat or cap. In this manner, a cigar—either unsmoked or partially smoked—can be stored within the clip, thereby protecting the cigar from damage or preventing the cigar from otherwise causing damage to a conventional storage location of the type previously referenced.

DISCUSSION OF THE PRIOR ART

Numerous designs cigarette and cigar clips have been provided in the prior art. Even though these designs may be suitable for the specific individual purposes to which they address, they would not be suitable for the purposes of the present version of the invention as said designs are primarily intended to aid in the act of smoking a cigarette or cigar. These designs are exemplified by the following patents:

-   U.S. Pat. No. 3,978,981, Lighted Cigar Holder, issued to Musick on 7     Sep. 1996; -   U.S. Pat. No. 5,520,198, Head Mount Type Cigarette Holder, issued to     Lin on 28 May 1996; -   U.S. Pat. No. 5,816,262, Divot Tool Cigar Holder Device, issued to     Javnozon on 6 Oct. 1998; -   U.S. Pat. No. 5,867,874, Implement Holder Attached To A Hat Or Cap,     issued to Simpson on 9 Feb. 1999; -   U.S. Pat. No. 5,898,946, Golf Hat And Ball Marker Assembly, issued     to Keating et al. on 4 May 1999; -   U.S. Pat. No. 6,357,642, Clip For Securing A Golf Ball Marker To A     Hat, issued to Marchessault et al. on 19 Mar. 2002; -   U.S. Pat. No. 6,363,941, Cigar Holder, issued to Combs on 2 Apr.     2002; and -   U.S. Pat. No. 6,477,714, Hat Clip, issued to Boatwright on 12 Nov.     2002.

As such, it may be appreciated that there is a continuing need for a new and improved clip for attaching a cigar to a hat or clip so as to store said cigar at a location that protects said cigar from damage during non-use thereof and prevents said cigar from otherwise damaging or soiling locations heretofore used for storage of said cigar during non-use thereof. In these respects, the present version of the invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus that substantially fulfills this need. Additionally, the prior patents and commercial techniques do not suggest the present inventive combination of component elements arranged and configured as disclosed herein.

The present invention achieves its intended purposes, objects, and advantages through a new, useful and unobvious combination of method steps and component elements, with the use of a minimum number of functioning parts, at a reasonable cost to manufacture, and by employing only readily available materials.

SUMMARY

The present version of the invention, which will be described in greater detail hereinafter, relates to the field of cigar holders. More specifically, this version of the invention is concerned with a clip that can hold a cigar therein and can be attached to various locations upon a hat or cap so as to store said cigar during non-use while allowing said cigar to be accessible for use. My version of the invention overcomes all of the shortcomings listed previously, in addition to novel aspects that will be described in detail hereinafter.

Described briefly, according to a first embodiment, the invention presents a clip that is releasably attached to a hat or cap and can receive therein either an unsmoked or partially smoked cigar for storage of said cigar during non-use thereof. The clip is provided as a one-piece device or unit having a face plate, first curved side, first middle plate, second curved side, second middle plate, third curved side, and rear plate. The face plate extends for some distance from an unattached edge thereof to a first end of the first curved side. The first middle plate is connected to the first curved side at a second end thereof and extends therefrom for some distance at which point said first middle plate is connected to the second curved side at a first end thereof. The second middle plate is connected to the second curved side at a second end thereof and extends therefrom for some distance at which point said second middle plate is connected to the third curved side at a first end thereof. The rear plate is connected to the third curved side at a second end thereof and extends therefrom for some distance until it is coplanar with the second curved side. A narrow gap separates the unattached end of the rear plate from the second curved side. The rear plate is disposed in angular relation to the second middle plate and is separated at widest distance from said second middle plate at connection to the third curved side and at least distance at said narrow gap.

A concavity is located medially within the front side of the face plate and extends across front side of said face plate in horizontal direction. A protuberance is located within the rear side of said face plate behind said concavity and extends across said rear side of said face plate in horizontal direction. In a second embodiment of the clip, the face plate is formed without the concavity, and an indicia, logo, or other graphic image is formed, inscribed, or otherwise placed on the front side of said face plate.

In this version of the invention, the face plate, first middle plate, second middle plate, and rear plate are approximately 0.75 inch wide, and the first middle plate, second middle plate, and rear plate are approximately 1.375 inches in length. The distance between facing surfaces of the face plate (excluding the leading edge of the protuberance of the face plate) is approximately 0.4375 inches, the diameter of the inside surface of the first curved side. The clip along the various sections thereof—face plate, first curved side, first middle plate, second curved side, second middle plate, third curved side, and rear plate—is approximately 0.025 inch.

The clip is comprised of material that is lightweight, durable, resilient and resistant to oxidation and corrosion, such as stainless steel, aluminum, plastic, various composite materials, and the like.

During use, the clip is attached to a portion of a hat or cap through the gap between the rear plate and the second middle plate with enclosed portion of said hat or cap occupying the space enclosed by the rear plate, third curved side, and second middle plate. The rear plate flexes toward the second middle plate so that said rear plate and second middle plate engage enclosed portion of hat or cap in frictional engagement, thereby securing the clip to said hat or cap. A cigar is inserted into the clip between facing sides of the face place and first middle plate and between the protuberance and the inside surface of the first curved side. As necessary, the face plate can flex to accommodate cigars of varying diameter within the area of the clip previously referenced. The combination of said flex action and boundaries defined by facing sides of face plate, first middle plate, inside surface of first curved side, and protuberance conjoin to stow a cigar within said clip during non-use of said cigar.

My invention, therefore, resides not in any one of these features per se, but rather in the particular combination of all of them herein disclosed. It is distinguished from the prior art in this particular combination of all of its structures for the functions specified.

In order that the detailed description of the invention may be better understood and that the present contribution to the art can be more fully appreciated, additional features of the invention will be described hereinafter. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and the disclosed specific methods and structures may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. It should be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent methods and structures do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention.

In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention.

Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.

Accordingly, it is an object of my version of the invention to provide a low-cost, easy-to-manufacture, and easy-to-market clip for attaching a cigar to a hat or cap.

A further object of my version of the invention is to provide an easy-to-use and versatile clip for attaching a cigar to a hat or cap.

A significant object of the invention is to provide a clip for attaching a cigar to a hat or cap that is comprised of a face plate, first curved side, first middle plate, second curved side, second middle plate, third curved side, and rear plate, said face plate having a concavity located medially on the front side of said face plate and extending horizontally across and having a protuberance located on the rear side of said face plate behind said concavity and extending horizontally across rear side of said face plate.

A final but very significant object of the invention is to provide a clip for attaching a cigar to a hat or cap during non-use of said cigar so that said cigar, unsmoked or partially-smoked, can be protected from damage during non-use thereof and prevented from otherwise causing damage to a conventional storage location and made available for subsequent smoking at the discretion of a smoker.

For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention. The foregoing has outlined some of the more pertinent objects of the invention. These objects should be construed to be merely illustrative of some of the more prominent features and applications of the present invention. Many other beneficial results can be attained by applying the disclosed invention in a different manner or by modifying the invention within the scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, other objects and a fuller understanding of the invention may be had by referring to the summary of the invention and the detailed description of the preferred embodiments in addition to the scope of the invention illustrated by the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become more fully understood from the following description of the preferred embodiments of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to the same parts throughout different views. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a first perspective view of a first embodiment of a clip for attaching a cigar to a hat or cap in accordance with the present version of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a second perspective view of a first embodiment of a clip for attaching a cigar to a hat or cap in accordance with the present version of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a front elevation view of a first embodiment of a clip for attaching a cigar to a hat or cap in accordance with the present version of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of a first embodiment of a clip for attaching a cigar to a hat or cap taken along line 1-1 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of a first embodiment of a clip for attaching a cigar to a hat or cap taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a clip for attaching a cigar to a hat or cap.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a clip for attaching a cigar to a hat or cap releasably attached to the side of a cap in accordance with the present version of the invention.

DRAWING REFERENCE NUMERALS

-   10 Clip For Attaching A Cigar To A Hat or Cap, First Embodiment -   12 Face Plate -   14 Curved Side -   16 First Middle Plate -   18 Curved Side -   20 Second Middle Plate -   22 Curved Side -   24 Rear Plate -   26 Concavity -   28 Protuberance -   30 Gap -   32 Clip For Attaching A Cigar To A Hat or Cap, Second Embodiment -   34 Face Plate -   36 Curved Side -   38 First Middle Plate -   40 Curved Side -   42 Second Middle Plate -   44 Curved Side -   46 Rear Plate -   48 Indicia -   50 Protuberance -   52 Gap -   54 Cap -   56 Head Cover -   58 Bill -   60 Cigar

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Description

Referring now to the drawings and, in particular, to FIG. 1-FIG. 5 wherein there are illustrated a first embodiment of the clip for attaching a cigar to a hat or cap 10. The present version of the invention 10 is comprised of a rectangular face plate 12, first curved side 14, first middle plate 16, second curved side 18, second middle plate 20, third curved side 22, and rear plate 24. The face plate 12 extends downwardly from an unattached edge thereof for some distance to connection with the first curved side 14 at a first end thereof, said curved side 14 traversing approximately 180 degrees of arc from connection to face plate 12 to connection with the first middle plate 16. The first middle plate 16 is connected to a second end of the first curved side 14 and extends therefrom for some distance until connection with a first end of the second curved side 18. The second curved side 18 traverses approximately 180 degrees of arc from connection to first middle plate 16 to connection with the second middle plate 20. The second middle plate 20 extends from connection to said second curved side 18 at a second end thereof for some distance until connection with the third curved side 22 at a first end thereof. The third curved side 22 traverses approximately 180 degrees of arc from connection to said second middle plate 20 to connection with the rear plate 24. The rear plate 24 extends from connection to said third curved side 22 at a second end thereof for some distance until terminating at an unattached edge thereof.

A concavity 26 is located medially on the front or facing side of the face plate 12 and extends across said face plate 12 in horizontal direction from a first lateral side edge to a second, opposed lateral side edge. A protuberance 28 is located medially on the rear side of the face plate 12 along the same path as the concavity 26 and extends across said face plate 12 in horizontal direction as said concavity 26. A narrow gap 30 is located between the unattached edge of the rear plate 24 and facing side of the second curved side 18.

The face plate 12 and first 16 and second 20 middle plates are generally deposed in parallel relation to each other, and the rear plate 24 is disposed in angular relation to said face plate 12 and first 16 and second 20 middle plates. More particularly, the rear plate 24 is disposed at an angle from a more distant point in relation to said second middle plate 20 at connection to the third curved side 22 to a less distant point in relation to said second middle plate 20 at said gap 30.

In this version of the invention 10, the face plate 12, first middle plate 16, second middle plate 20, and rear plate 24 are approximately 0.75 inch wide, and the first middle plate 16, second middle plate 20, and rear plate 24 are approximately 1.375 inches in length. The distance between facing surfaces of the face plate 12 (excluding the leading edge of the protuberance 28 of the face plate 12) is approximately 0.4375 inches, the diameter of the inside surface of the first curved side 14. The clip 10 along the various sections thereof—face plate 12, first curved side 14, first middle plate 16, second curved side 18, second middle plate 20, third curved side 22, and rear plate 24—is approximately 0.025 inch in thickness.

The clip is comprised of material that is lightweight, durable, resilient and resistant to oxidation and corrosion, such as stainless steel, aluminum, plastic, various composite materials, and the like.

Referring to FIG. 6, therein illustrated is an alternate embodiment 32 of the clip for attaching a cigar to a hat or cap. The clip 32 is comprised of a rectangular face plate 34, first curved side 36, first middle plate 38, second curved side 40, second middle plate 42, third curved side 44, and rear plate 46. The face plate 34 extends downwardly from an unattached edge thereof for some distance to connection with the first curved side 36 at a first end thereof, said curved side 36 traversing approximately 180 degrees of arc from connection to face plate 34 to connection with the first middle plate 38. The first middle plate 38 is connected to a second end of the first curved side 36 and extends therefrom for some distance until connection with a first end of the second curved side 40. The second curved side 40 traverses approximately 180 degrees of arc from connection to first middle plate 38 to connection with the second middle plate 42. The second middle plate 42 extends from connection to said second curved side 40 at a second end thereof for some distance until connection with the third curved side 44 at a first end thereof. The third curved side 44 traverses approximately 180 degrees of arc from connection to said second middle plate 42 to connection with the rear plate 46. The rear plate 46 extends from connection to said third curved side 44 at a second end thereof for some distance until terminating at an unattached edge thereof.

An indicia 48 is located medially on the front or facing side of the face plate 34. In other versions of the invention, a logo or other graphic image can be formed, inscribed, or otherwise placed on the front side of said face plate 34. A protuberance 50 is located medially on the rear side of the face plate 34 and extends across said face plate 34 in horizontal direction. A narrow gap 52 is located between the unattached edge of the rear plate 46 and facing side of the second curved side 40.

The face plate 34 and first 38 and second 42 middle plates are generally deposed in parallel relation to each other, and the rear plate 46 is disposed in angular relation to said face plate 34 and first 38 and second 42 middle plates. More particularly, the rear plate 46 is disposed at an angle from a more distant point in relation to said second middle plate 42 at connection to the third curved side 44 to a less distant point in relation to said second middle plate 42 at said gap 52.

The face plate 34, first middle plate 38, second middle plate 42, and rear plate 46 are approximately 0.75 inch wide, and the first middle plate 34, second middle plate 38, and rear plate 42 are approximately 1.375 inches in length. The distance between facing surfaces of the face plate 34 and the first middle plate 38 is approximately 0.4375 inches, the diameter of the inside surface of the first curved side 36. The clip 32 along the various sections thereof—face plate 34, first curved side 36, first middle plate 38, second curved side 40, second middle plate 42, third curved side 44, and rear plate 46—is approximately 0.025 inch in thickness.

In FIG. 7, the clip 10 is illustrated as releasably attached to the side of a cap 54, said cap 54 comprised in part of a head cover 56 portion and a visor bill 58. The clip 10 is located on the side of the head cover 56 portion with a cigar 60 situated within said clip 10. The clip 10 is secured to the cap 54 by inserting said clip 10 through gap 30 between second middle plate 20 and rear plate 24 onto the side of the head cover 56 portion of said cap 54. The rear plate 24 disposed angularly towards said gap 30 urges towards said gap 30 and said second middle plate 20, thereby engaging in frictional engagement part of head cover 56 portion situated between and enclosed by said rear plate 24 and said second middle plate 20. The cigar 60 is received in snug engagement within said clip 10 between facing portions of the face plate 12 and first middle plate 16 and between the protuberance 28 and the inside surface of the curved side 14. The protuberance 28 impinges upon the top or side surface of the cigar 60 to assist in maintaining said cigar 60 within said clip 10. Moreover, the face plate 12 by means of the curved side 14 can flex towards or away from the first middle plate 16 and the cigar 60 situated therein so as to accommodate cigars of varying diameter. As necessary, the clip 10 can be relocated at various portions of the head cover 56 and bill 58 of the cap 54 using the method described previously.

While this version of the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only the preferred embodiments have been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the version of the invention are desired to be protected. With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

CONCLUSION AND SCOPE OF INVENTION

From the foregoing, it will be understood by persons skilled in the art that an improved clip for attaching a cigar to a hat or cap has been provided. The invention is relatively simple and easy to manufacture, yet affords a variety of uses. While my description contains many specificities, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the version of the invention, but rather as an exemplification of the preferred embodiments thereof. The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention. Although this invention has been described in its preferred forms with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure of the preferred form has been made only by way of example and numerous changes in the details of construction and combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 

1. A method of securing a brand new unused, or partially used and extinguished cigar which preserves the life of the cigar and keeps it viable until its next and future uses.
 2. A method that preserves a brand new unused or partially used cigar which eliminates the premature discarding of said cigar and also enhances its viability.
 3. A device that overcomes the disadvantages of storing a partially smoked cigar in otherwise commonly stored places such as shirt pockets, jacket pockets, and other such places that will not allow the cigar to properly vent.
 4. A way in which to keep a partially smoked cigar that avoids the misplacement of the cigar and avoids it being placed on flammable surfaces such as desktops, countertops, tabletops, furniture and the like. 